Joel Matip | Defensemen | #32

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Liverpool face a defensive crisis ahead of their Champions League showdown against Manchester City.

Speaking ahead of the quarter-final tie, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that centre-back Joel Matip will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a thigh injury during the win over Crystal Palace: "After the game, nobody could have imagined [the extent of the problem]. Joel said he felt it a bit but he could do everything, so it should be fine. We all thought it was kind of a dead leg." However, the injury is likely to require surgery to correct the problem which would rule Matip out until July. His absence leaves Liverpool with only two fully fit central defenders – Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren – after Joe Gomez suffered ankle ligament damage on England duty and Ragnar Klavan was ruled out due to an unspecified injury. Klopp also revealed that tomorrow will probably come too for Nathaniel Clyne to be considered as a starter: "He has been a long time without football. Physically, he is fit – but he has no football rhythm." Apr 3 - 10:56 AM

It is extremely doubtful that Joel Matip will be in the squad Saturday as Liverpool travel to face Brighton and Hove Albion, with the defender dealing with a muscle injury.

Klopp was quoted on Friday as saying, "It looks like Joel Matip is out. After the game, he felt something muscle-wise." That game, of course, refers to the midweek win over Stoke City. Klopp went on to say that Ragnar Klavan is no longer ill, which would lead one to assume Klavan is ready for Brighton, though the defender is still injury flagged. Klavan should partner Dejan Lovren in central defense and has been a decent fantasy add in draft formats in recent weeks. Sat, Dec 2, 2017 05:23:00 AM

The Liverpool Echo is reporting that Joel Matip is "almost certain" to miss Saturday's match against Southampton as the defender is dealing with a thigh problem.

The news came late in the evening from Merseyside, so fantasy owners who thought Matip was OK following Jurgen Klopp's initial press conference may be waking up to some unfortunate news. Actually, owners of any Liverpool defenders will feel Matip's loss, as the Echo projects Dejan Lovren to take Matip's place. Lovren has had a nightmare season but has a chance to get on the right track against his former club if Klopp indeed turns to him. The manager does have alternatives though. With a solid defensive record at home and playing a Saints side with a struggling attack, this looked to be one of the more bankable clean sheet matchups this weekend. The fact that Matip is "unlikely to be risked" suggests that the Cameroon international will be in contention for next weekend. Sat, Nov 18, 2017 04:28:00 AM

Jurgen Klopp delivered some potentially bad news in his presser ahead of Liverpool's match against Crystal Palace this weekend, as Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Lucas have all popped up on the injury report.

At the center-back positions this weekend, it looks like it will be Dejan Lovren partnering...someone. Matip is carrying a knock, minor enough for one to think, given the current state of the roster, the defender is prepared to play through. Klavan, on the other hand, has been dealing with a ligament issue on and off in recent weeks, so his status is quite unclear. Lucas, meanwhile, normally provides cover in central defense when Liverpool have an injury crisis, but he, too, is carrying a knock. Whatever the partnership this weekend, the news should give a bump to Crystal Palace's attacking players, who are being heavily invested in for their double gameweek. Fri, Apr 21, 2017 05:18:00 AM